Helping yourself to help others

One of the common queries we receive at Hati.my is recommendations of orphanages or welfare homes to help.  We've started a category, called "Recommended", listing down organisations  orphanages and shelters that the past and present Hati team notes as, "most in need of help".  Yes, we are helping all organisations listed in our directory (and some not), but I personally like this section because it brings attention to communities that are often "forgotten" because they are not in the urban areas or not convenient to get to.

From our conversations with home administrators and volunteers, homes that are in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Selangor, tend to receive a little more attention that their rural cousins.  Some times we receive emails appealing for funds from the public from shelters in Kulim, outside Ipoh and Malacca.  I wish we could find out about the others who do not have access to internet.

If you're keen to learn more about the Recommended category, check it out here:

So if you're a first time volunteer looking to help out, donate some cash or goods or keen to visit orphanages, here are some questions you can ask yourself, to help you make your selection. It is a bit like signing up to a gym membership, as you'll find the questions are not very different from those guiding you visiting the gym.:)

1.  Is the home near where you live, is it convenient to get to?
2.  Do you like helping, children, senior citizens, animals or disabled communities, or do you feel strongly about indigenous communities' affairs and want to do something about it?
3.  What do you want to do - give cash or groceries or volunteer (teaching, cleaning, running projects, setting up computers)
4.  How often can you visit or would you prefer to make a one-off donation or visit?
5.  Do you want to bring a friend? Sometimes visiting a home alone can be daunting, so perhaps visiting with a friend will make it easier, you'll make new friends too!